A Letter To The Ex Jehovah’s Witness Community

Congratulations on coming out of that cult!!! 😁 I know, we could all write a book a best seller about the atrocities committed in the name of Jehovah. But guess what? Jesus has even bigger plans for you and me; yes us, not just those elite Jehovah’s Witnesses who claim to be the 144,000. As we continue to seek God through Jesus Christ; the real way, THE REAL TRUTH, and the real eternal life (John 14:6) He will guide and reveal to us many things. I left the Witnesses 25 years ago because of falsehoods I seen. I was raised in it from a child like many of you. 2 years after I came out God showed me how to become a real Christian; a believer in Him through Jesus Christ, without belonging to any man made cult. All I did was ask. And He answered big time! This journey has been an awesome one. Jesus has and still is revealing Himself and who the Father really is to me, just as He has and is to many of you. Why do I say, “He has and is to many of you?” Because everyone who is an Ex Jehovah’s Witness have not found the true God through Jesus Christ yet. But He’s there, nearer than we think. All we have to do is sincerely ask Him to show us the true way to serve Him. He will answer, and in ways you may never have expected.

I know the pain associated with being duped for many years by the JWs religion. I know the pains of losing family members over it. And there are other things I am suffering to this day because of my decision to join the JWs (got baptized at age 16). But if I constantly brood on what they did to me, or make a career out of bashing Jehovah’s Witnesses, it wouldn’t change a thing. In fact my heart would become bitter. And Satan would have not only duped me once but twice. Let’s be honest; that’s exactly what some are doing who say they are part of the ex Jehovah’s Witnesses community. They have taken exposing the JWs to another level. A level that Jesus never commanded. Don’t get me wrong; yes you should expose the Jehovah’s Witnesses cover up of pedophilia (even among their leaders). Yes you should expose how this cult rips families apart. You should expose all the works of darkness they do the Bible says. (Ephesians 5:11) But IF THAT IS ALL YOU DO, and you do not promote the love of Jesus Christ, the one who opened your eyes to all of this, and gave you your new freedom, you have missed it.

Allow me to explain please: Let’s take for example the apostle Paul. When Paul had his eyes opened by Jesus Christ what did he immediately do after that? Join another cult? Spend most of his time bashing the Pharisees, the false religion he belonged to? No. Let’s get the answer from Paul’s own words:

Galatians 1:15-17 NIV “But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased [16] to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. [17] I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.”

What did Paul do while in Arabia and Damascus? The Bible book of Acts tells us that he preached the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. We don’t read anywhere in the New Testament where he focusses his attention on the Pharisees (the false religion he had left). He mentions his past experience as one of them at times, but not much. Paul’s main objective after he had received the true light was spreading that light (Jesus) to others. This was his mission. We’d do well to follow his example. In fact the Holy Spirit says through Paul the apostle at 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” So it is God who is saying we should follow the example of our dear brother and true elder Paul.

ANGER IS NORMAL BUT IT CAN BE DEADLY

Ephesians 4:26‭-‬27 ESV “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

If we’re not careful we can become so angry at what the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion did to us that we give the Devil opportunity to work in our lives. He’s the real culprit behind what we went through. Why let him get us twice?

It is normal to be angy after finding out for many years you’ve been duped. But if we’re not careful that anger can be directed at the wrong people, or expressed in wrong ways. I’ll use myself as an example: For years after leaving the religion whenever I’d see the Witnesses or they’d knock on my door my skin would crawl. I despised them. God showed me I was wrong! When he first opened my eyes years earlier he showed me in a miraculous way that my anger didn’t matter, just get in the race and follow him is what He told me. But I didn’t listen. How dare I get mad at somebody who is just as misled as I was. The average JW doesn’t know they’re in a false religion. They are just as blind as we were. Instead of being angry at them we should have great pity on them. We should be earnestly praying to God, asking Him to open their eyes too. Making jokes about how misled they are is not becoming either. There’s nothing funny about somebody one day learning there is a real place called hell because they were sent there. JWs teach folks that hell doesn’t exist. Let’s pray that their awakening comes sooner not later.

I know, JWs can be a hard bunch to talk to. But isn’t anyone who’s been brainwashed that their way is right? Pray to God on how to witness to them just as you would pray for His Spirit to help you talk to anyone. And remember, our well crafted words are not what brings people to God. We have the privilege of sharing God’s message with all people, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit that saves them and wakes them up. So don’t worry about what to say to JWs, just be willing to speak, and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Of course some of them will call you an apostate. So what? They called Jesus worse than that. A slave is not greater than his/her master, are they? (Matthew 10:24-38)

You and I will be showing love for God as we seek to help those who have been misled by the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion, or any false religion for that matter.

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When I encourage people to study God’s word I’m amazed at how often they boast about praying to Him, as if these two were the same. Yes, God wants us to pray to Him, but He also wants us to study His word. (2 Timothy 2:15 Joshua 1:8 Acts 17:11 1 Timothy 4:13 2 Timothy 3:6 Ephesians 6:17) Then we will find the truth about God, ourselves, our world, and the world to come. This spiritual treasure hunt will unearth the finest jewels, nuggets of truth that give eternal life. (Proverbs 2:1-6 John 17:3) That’s what this series called, “Jewels,” is all about.

‘THE DRAGONS SHALL HONOR ME?’

In the passage below God is telling Isaiah that he is going to do something new: make a way out of no way. But notice He says the Dragons will honor Him for it too, along with the owls and other creatures. This further proves Dragons–whose name was changed to DINOSAUR in 1842–existed along with other creatures and man. Why would God tell Isaiah a few thousand years ago that Dragons (dinosaurs) would honor Him along with the owls if they were extinct?

And let’s not miss another point while reading the passage below: that God makes a way where there is none. That’s what He does. Be encouraged in that.

Isaiah 43:18-21 KJV “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. [19] Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. [20] The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. [21] This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”

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There’s an increasing number of folks out there who say Christianity is a false religion. Maybe that’s because they have no clue of what it means to be a true Christian. Many look at the the obvious fake Christians or false prophets and say things like, “See, that’s why I could never be a Christian. Look at what this person who’s supposed to be a Christian did?” Yet I never hear them say things like, “See, that’s why I’ll never be rich. Look at what this person with all of that money did?” Some of you get the point.

Let me briefly tell you why being a Christian is the most real way of life there is. To be a Christian (or follower of Jesus Christ) one must deny his or herself. Yes, you must reject your own evil desires. And all of us have evil desires. You must be willing to live a life of self-sacrifice. Yes, you must be willing to sacrifice yourself for the good of others. You must learn what it means to love to be a Christian. In a world that is growing more cruel by the day you must go against the grain and become even more loving. Are you starting to see why most people won’t ever become Christians? Lastly, to be a Christian you must be willing to die for your beliefs. It doesn’t get any realer than that. And throughout the centuries many Christians have done just that. But some will say, “Well, there are Muslims who are willing to die for their beliefs?” This is true. But Jesus never taught His followers to commit suicide and kill other innocent people. Jesus teaches His followers to live a life of love and self-sacrifice, even if this calls for giving up one’s own life in order to serve others, just like Jesus did. This I believe is the real reason why most folks will never become true Christians. Living like this sounds crazy to them. Unfortunately mankind wants nothing to do with that kind of love.

Jesus was not one of those, “Do as I say but not as I do,” teachers. His life and death is well documented. I would like to share with you a passage from the Bible book of Isaiah chapter 53 that foretold what kind of life Jesus would live, and what He’d come to earth to do. Notice His sufferings, His love, His great humility in serving others.

Isaiah 53:1-12 NIV “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? [2] He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. [3] He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. [4] Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. [6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. [9] He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. [10] Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. [11] After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Very Interesting. If you want to know more about who Jesus is, how he lived while on earth, and what’s this great thing is all about He did for humankind, you can find this information in the Bible books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

For those of us who are following a name it and claim it religion; a prosperity gospel, and call ourselves Christians, you have no clue what it means to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. You have no clue of what true, eternal, riches are. You are in the same position as the church in Laodecia found at Revelation chapter 3:14-22 and need to Repent. Read what Jesus said to them in Revelation chapter 3:14-22.

Repent! Deny yourself to serve Christ and others. For if we live for the flesh and deny Jesus by going with the flow of this evil world we will damn ourselves forever. Anyone who does things they know God disapproves, and justifies them by saying they have to pay their bills, or make money, etcetera, is not a true Christian, and needs to repent. We must love and do what is right even if it means our physical death, just like Jesus did. Then–and only then–can it be said that we have picked up our cross DAILY; our sufferings, our persecutions, and follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Luke 9:23 NIV “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

2 Timothy 2:11-12 KJV “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: [12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.”

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Hebrews 5:7 NLT “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.”

Are you too proud to cry to God? To pray to Him with tears? I hope the answer is, “No.” Jesus wasn’t. And scripture says that God heard Him because of His deep heartfelt prayers and reverence for God. He’ll hear us too.

God works miracles in the most mysterious ways. When we rely on Him anything can happen:

Matthew 7:7‭-‬11 ESV “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

DON’T GET IT TWISTED

Someone will say, “Wow, so all I have to do is ask God for a million dollars and I’ll have it?” And I’ll say, “If that’s His will for you. But if it’s not His will you can ask for the million all you want He won’t give it to you. Be careful. Satan may see how bad you want that million dollars and He’ll give it to you. He can even trick you into thinking it’s God who is giving you the money. How will you know if it is from the Devil? When it’s from Satan you will always have to do something really sick (wicked) or dishonest in order to get it and keep it.” Why would I answer someone this way? Because of these next passages:

1 John 5:14‭-‬15 ESV “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

And this next passage proves the Devil gives people stuff too:

Matthew 4:8‭-‬10 ESV “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'”

REAL EXPECTATIONS

Let’s examine Hebrews 5:7 again: “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.” (NLT)

Jesus prayed to God with pleadings and tears. Do people pray that way because everything is going and feels so lovely? Hebrews 5:7 also says Jesus prayed to the one who could rescue Him from death. But did that mean Jesus would not suffer death? Did not Jesus suffer a gruesome death? But God did hear Him and rescue Him from death because Jesus was raised to life on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God in eternal glory! But was it not God’s will also that Jesus should suffer death for the sins of the world? (John 3:16) Are we understanding from examining the scriptures that though God answers our prayers this doesn’t mean that we will be exempt from all suffering? And that God answers our prayers in ways we will not always understand or expect?

Yes, God does answer our prayers guys, but in harmony with His will. And he will rescue and deliver us. But we will have to go through some things as well.

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When I was a kid my mom used to say, “That boy can do anything he put his mind to.” Those words catapulted me to accomplish things I never thought were possible. As a child I would always take things apart (electronics) to see how they worked, then put them back together again. Hah hah! When I was in the 7th grade I won the school’s science fair (1st place). What was my project? I wrote a poem about roaches of all things. Yes, roaches. At age 16 I beat my chess instructor 3 games in a row. Then I went on to beat a powerful chess computer on it’s highest level (tournament level). I learned how to create and produce music because of my mother’s inspiring words. I received many accolades in my field of endeavor (Salesmanship) as an adult inspired by my mother’s words. I became a # 1 sales rep at a Fortune 500 company.

You know, upon writing this a thought occurred to me: “This is one of the reasons why you’ve had to endure many trials since you’ve come to Christ. Throughout your life you’ve been so self-reliant because of your natural abilities. And God has to whip that thinking out of you to teach you how to rely on him.” (Hebrews 12:5-11) Amen!

Mom used to say, “If you know how to read you can learn anything.” Reading was my favorite subject in school. I have fond memories of my mother and I going to the library and checking out books on everything from dinosaurs to outer space. Anything I wanted to learn or master I went to the library or bought a book on it. And I was amazed at how following simple instructions could net positive results.

But now that I’m older I’m learning something else. That is, despite my best thinking or knowledge there are certain things I can not do. I’m now sometimes amazed at how we (I) can be so smart in some areas and be so dumb in others. My mother meant well by what she taught me. It did help me build confidence. But to be painfully truthful I’ve put too much confidence in my own abilities. It’s with tears that I write this and say I’ve been very proud.

OLD DOGS CAN LEARN NEW TRICKS

I’m now learning something new and VERY EXCITING:

Philippians 4:13 KJV “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

This is the real way to do all things and succeed in life, through Jesus Christ. Through belief in Him and His omnipotence, not in ourselves and our abilities, is the true way to success. There have been days (you might be able to relate to this) that I’ve been faced with challenges, and in spite of my best thinking I could not figure a way out. In fact the more I tried to find a solution to the problem the more depressed I became. Sounds familiar? So you see I can not do anything that I put my mind to, truthfully. But I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  😉

A TRUTH WE MUST ACCEPT

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 KJV “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? [14] In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.”

You and I will not always get what we want. There will be times of prosperity and times of adversity. God is in charge of both times. Being a Christian does not mean you have a get out of jail free card. On the contrary for many it means the very opposite. (Revelation 2:10) But just as God was with Joseph in the prison (Genesis 39:20-21) he will be with you and I in whatever we go through.

Most folks don’t know that when the apostle Paul said the famous phrase, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” he wasn’t just talking about prosperous times. He was also speaking about enduring hunger, yes famine, and other needs. And that through Jesus Christ he learned how to be content in whatever situation he found himself in. Here’s the proof. Paul said:

Philippians 4:10-13 NLT “How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. [11] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

For the Christian there is much more to life than physical prosperity. We must learn to do ALL THINGS, good and bad, with plenty or little, through Christ Jesus who strengthens us, just as Paul learned. And we must recognize that we don’t have the ability to think our way out of every situation. Man’s pride likes to believe he does. It’s a lie! But we do have the ability to pray in every situation:

Philippians 4:4-7 NLT “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice! [5] Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. [6] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

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If you had to pick between the two which would you choose? Comfortable, or wonderful? I know that I would be inclined to pick comfortable. But I also know that I’d be making the wrong decision. Let me explain. Better yet let the apostle Paul explain:

2 Corinthians 12:1‭-‬10 ESV “I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul was made very uncomfortable (by God) through a tormenting messenger or demon from Satan. This was necessary for Paul to continue experiencing many great and wonderful things. Jesus knew just the right amount of suffering (uncomfortableness) needed for Paul to keep him from becoming conceited and destroyed because of his many wonderful visions and revelations.

Imagine yourself as Paul. You’re going through something that feels so bad you 3 times plead with the Lord to take it away. The Lord says, ‘No. You have my grace Paul. That’s all you need. My power is made perfect in your weakness.’ Wow. It’s moments like this that you find out whether you really believe God knows best. Paul did believe it. Instead of raging against the Lord for not making his situation more comfortable he accepted Jesus’ decision saying, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul learned the secret of his sufferings. What awesome submission to Almighty God! Bravo!  😉

Of course you know that God is not partial. And He disciplines all of His children He loves. (Hebrews 12:5-11) He knows just the right amount of training we individually need. Will we accept our discipline from the Lord like Paul?

Matthew 16:24 KJV “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Matthew 10:38 NIV “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

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Ahh, the American dream. Many folks are learning just how hard it is to hold on to their homes these days. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, fires, etcetera, have caused many to become homeless over night. These folks had nice homes, jobs, cars, etcetera, and suddenly it’s all gone. Some will get these things back again. Others won’t be as fortunate.

But there is a home that is eternal. A home that is unaffected by what we call natural disasters. These homes have no rent or mortgages. There’s no costs for utilities. No homeowner’s insurance. No yearly taxes to pay. These homes are built by God for His children. And He has many of them.

John 14:2-3 KJV “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

As you read the next few passages try not to just read them, meditate on what they’re saying. They’re talking about your home child of God. A home that you will never lose. A home that you will never have taken away.

Philippians 3:20 NIV “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 3:12 BBE “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the house of my God, and he will go out no more: and I will put on him the name of my God, and the name of the town of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my new name.”

Matthew 6:19-20 BBE “Make no store of wealth for yourselves on earth, where it may be turned to dust by worms and weather, and where thieves may come in by force and take it away. 20 But make a store for yourselves in heaven, where it will not be turned to dust and where thieves do not come in to take it away.”

Matthew 19:29 NLT “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.”

The apostle Peter knew from experience that the Christian life was one of a sojourner, a pilgrim. He knew that nowhere here on earth is really our home. Which is why he wrote:

1 Peter 2:11‭-‬12 ESV “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

This next passage applies to Peter and all who have gone home to rest in the Lord.

Hebrews 11:13-16 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. [14] People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. [15] If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. [16] Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

It’s almost time to go to our true home y’all. Hang in there.  😉

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Psalm 6:6-7 NIV “I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. [7] My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.”

Psalm 42:3 NIV “My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” ‘

Psalm 119:136 KJV “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.”

Psalm 42:5 NIV “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

When I first became a believer God gave me a friend and mentor who was in my life a very short time. He was an older gentleman who I believe was an angel from God. He once said, “David was a crying man. Whenever it gets so rough you feel like you can’t take anymore, just cry out to God like David did and say, “Oh Lord!” ‘ I didn’t understand what he was talking about back then but over the years I have been learning.

Sometimes the pressure feels so great you don’t know what to do or say. But that’s when it’s high time to do what my dear friend told me to do: cry out to God! Have a good old cry to him. Don’t worry about what to say. Just cry out, “Oh Lord.”

Romans 8:26‭-‬27 ESV “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Haven’t you been hurt so much that it’s too deep for words to explain? When we groan and cry to God in these moments we are praying in the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit intercedes for us in ways our words can never express. God still hears us because He knows the mind of the Spirit who is interceding for us. This I believe is one the most powerful forms of prayer. Because when praying like this a person is crying out from the depths of his/her soul. And the Spirit who is interceding for us is way more powerful than our minds, or any words that we could ever think to say.

I am not saying we shouldn’t pray with our minds, or in intelligible words we understand. I’m simply saying that we should pray in the Holy Spirit too.

1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”

My friend I told you about was teaching me how to pray in the Holy Spirit, not just with my mind. He knew there were turbulent times ahead for me and this was something I needed to know. In fact when we first met he told me, “You don’t pray in the Holy Spirit yet.” I didn’t know what he was talking about but he was right. He told me many other things about myself that no one else could have known but God. I look so forward to meeting him again.  😉

I hope this short piece encourages you in what to do when times get so tough you feel like you’re gonna pop. God; our Father,  🙂  has unlimited power, and He willingly shares it with all who humbly come to him.

James 4:6 NIV “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT “Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. [8] Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. [10] That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; [31] but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Psalm 34:17 NIV “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

Yes, David too was a crying man. But he was also a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22)

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Philippians 4:12-13 KJV “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

What powerful words! They are inspired words of God spoken through a man who really knew what he was saying. The apostle Paul experienced the best of times and the worse of them. But through them all he maintained his faith. That’s not as easy a task as some might think. It is a constant battle.

True​ Faith is not a possession of all people. (2 Thessalonians 3:2) Jesus Himself prophesied many would turn away from the faith. (Matthew 24:10 1 Timothy 4:1) And He encouraged many to believe and hold on to what they have. (Revelation 3:11) What makes people like Paul stay true to the faith despite going through the harshest persecution? They desire God more than anything else. They don’t put any other gods before Him, including themselves.

People like Job, Jeremiah, folks like David, Daniel, Deborah, and the best example Jesus Christ, valued their relationships with God more than anything else. Studying their lives shows us how to win the fight for the faith.

1 Timothy 6:12 KJV “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Jude 1:3 KJV “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS?”

So often we hear people use the phrase, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” They are quoting Philippians 4:13. But many don’t know what verse 12 says. Verse 12 gives us the context of what verse 13 means. Paul by the Holy Spirit was saying that whether he was having it good or bad, whether well fed or hungry, he knew how to serve God acceptably in both circumstances. Not all people will serve God if they are hungry or in need. But a person with true faith will.

Are we willing to do and go through, “All Things,” for the name of Christ? Do not even true friends go through the good and bad times together? Isn’t this the test of a good marriage? Human nature teaches us that folks are willing to suffer for whatever they want. The question is, how much do we want God? Do we really believe in Him? Do we believe His word?

As we hold on to our Faith in our Lord and Savior ALL THE TIME, THROUGH BOTH GOOD AND BAD TIMES, we too will be able to truthfully say like Paul, ‘I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me.’ Jesus gives us the secret to success in the next passage:

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Did you catch the secret to success? Yes, we must hear Jesus’ words and put them into practice. That means we must study His words. They’re found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The person who diligently studies God’s word and genuinely puts them into practice will have a healthy faith. He/She too will be able to say like the apostle Paul, ‘I can do all things through christ who strengthens me.’ “I KNOW BOTH HOW TO BE ABASED, AND I KNOW HOW TO ABOUND.”

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